AI-generated Ghibli-style artwork has become a viral sensation on social media, with users sharing surreal, dreamlike images inspired by the signature animation style of Studio Ghibli. OpenAI’s latest ChatGPT update has made it easier than ever to create illustrations that resemble the classic aesthetic of Hayao Miyazaki’s films.
From recreating iconic movie scenes to transforming personal photographs into Ghibli-style visuals, the trend has captivated millions. High-profile figures, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Elon Musk, have also joined in. Musk, for instance, shared a Ghibli-style image of himself as Rafiki from The Lion King, holding up Doge as the “future ruler.”
However, alongside the enthusiasm, the trend has also sparked serious concerns over privacy, security, and copyright infringement. Experts have warned that the widespread use of OpenAI’s image-generation tool could pose significant risks to personal data, potentially allowing AI models to collect and use images without consent.
With AI-generated Ghibli-style images flooding social media, privacy experts and digital rights activists have sounded the alarm about how personal data may be misused.
Proton, a platform dedicated to online privacy and security, cautioned users about the risks of uploading images to AI tools.
“From the risks of data breaches, once you share personal photos with AI, you lose control over how they are used since those photos are then used to train AI. For instance, they could be used to generate content that may be defaming or used as harassment.”
The platform also warned that many AI models rely on large datasets for training, meaning that photos uploaded by users could be stored and used without their explicit consent.
“Data could be used for personalised ads and/or sold to third parties.”
British futurist Elle Farrell-Kingsley, a journalist and advocate for AI ethics, also voiced concerns about how AI tools handle user data.
“Uploading photos/thoughts to AI tools risks exposing metadata, location, even sensitive data — especially for kids.”
She added: “If it’s free, you (& your data) are the price. If you're fine with that, great, but it's good to be aware.”
Cybersecurity groups, including Himachal Cyber Warriors, have also issued warnings. Experts noted that unlike a password, which can be changed, a compromised facial identity remains exposed permanently.
Luiza Jarovsky, co-founder of the AI, Tech & Privacy Academy, pointed out that OpenAI’s privacy policy explicitly states that the company collects personal data input by users unless they opt out.
“OpenAI is gaining free and easy access to personal or private images, and only they will have the originals. Social media platforms and other AI companies will only see the ‘Ghiblified’ version.”
The overwhelming popularity of OpenAI’s Ghibli-style AI tool has even tested the company’s computing capacity.
On Thursday, March 27, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged the strain on their infrastructure, stating: “Our GPUs are melting.”
By Sunday, March 30, Altman had to urge users to slow down on image generation, writing on X: “Please chill on generating images. The demand is insane. The team needs sleep.”
Despite these remarks, interest in AI-generated Ghibli-style images has shown no signs of slowing down.
Beyond privacy concerns, the AI-generated Ghibli-style images have also ignited a debate over intellectual property rights.
Legal experts have pointed out that while an artistic style itself is not protected by copyright law, individual elements of an artwork may be subject to copyright infringement claims.
Evan Brown, an intellectual property lawyer at Neal & McDevitt, told TechCrunch that OpenAI’s approach falls into a legal grey area.
“Style is not explicitly protected by copyright laws, so OpenAI does not technically appear to be violating laws by generating images that look like Studio Ghibli movies.”
However, Josh Weigensberg, a partner at Pryor Cashman, warned that OpenAI could face legal challenges if AI-generated images replicated specific elements too closely.
“While ‘style’ itself isn’t copyrighted, certain aspects of an artwork could still infringe on copyright laws if they resemble original works too closely.”
Studio Ghibli’s co-founder and legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki has long been a critic of AI-generated art. His past remarks have resurfaced amid the rising popularity of AI-created Ghibli-style images.
In a 2016 interview, Miyazaki condemned AI-generated artwork as an “insult to life itself.”
“I am utterly disgusted. If you really want to make creepy stuff, you can go ahead and do it, but I would never wish to incorporate this technology into my work at all.”
The Ghibli-style AI image trend has undoubtedly captivated the internet, transforming everyday images into animated masterpieces. Yet, as AI-generated artwork becomes more advanced, questions about data security, user privacy, and copyright protection continue to loom large.
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